Vanity Fair

Thank God I taped it way back in 1987...agonizingly editing out the commercials, so that I had a "pure" copy of the original. (Little did I know then how a "copy of a copy" would degrade so.) I'm re-watching it now, going through an ancient copy of the book as I do so, and am newly impressed with not only how faithful, but how entertaining the production is. I may get to watching the Reese Witherspoon version some day, but only as a light amusement - no one could get the full gist of this book in 2-1/2 hours. Sorry to say, my 18-year-old tape has rather more degraded...good enough for me, but not good enough to offer anyone a copy of a copy of a copy. Let's hope A&E chooses to rebroadcast it at some point.

It's been great seeing this series again after twenty years. Eve Matheson plays Becky Sharp to perfection, from the early episodes where she seems sweet enough, to the devious schemer in the Napoleonic wars. In support, Rebecca Saire is a good Amelia, while Jack Klaff and Benedict Taylor play Rawdon and George very well. Sian Phillips, Freddie Jones, David Swift, and others also add good value.

Despite its continued unavailability, this is the best version to see. Far truer to the book than the 60s and 90s version, and much better than the Reece Witherspoon film (although that had its compensations outside of its status as an 'adaptation'). From the cartoon credits and trumpet theme through to its colour, life, and energy, this 'Vanity Fair' is special.

I agree with the other comments here. This would probably have to be the best adaptation of a book ever to be done to screen. And it is better than the 1998 series. The characters especially are very true to the book, especially Becky, Osborne, Rawdon and Lord Steyne. They even looked like their descriptions in the book e.g. Becky was small and sandy-haired, George Osborne proud and large-whiskered. By the end of the series I found it very hard to decide whether Becky was "innocent" or "guilty", which was the exact way she was portrayed in the novel. This series caught the colour, richness and comedy of the book, and captured Thackeray's disdain of most of the characters. As said in another comment, if you don't feel like ploughing through the book, watch this series, that is if you can find a copy of it........

I am truly at a loss as to why this adaptation of Vanity Fair is unavailable to the viewing public. I searched for it everywhere; I once rented it from a video rental store and was so grateful to view it once again......To my utter astonishment, when I returned several weeks later to rent Vanity Fair again, the clerk informed me that they did not carry this version with Eve Matheson as Becky! To add insult to injury, she acted as if they never carried this version! Talking about a "Twilight Zone" moment.....I can only conclude that the clerk/co-owner discovered the true value of that rare find and quietly cashed in on it......If you want to enjoy this story without actually sitting down and devouring the novel, this filming of Vanity Fair is the absolute best. I can't recommend Eve Matheson's portrayal of Becky Sharp with any higher regard than I already give it! She is outstanding here.....Please CBC or BBC or whoever it was that gifted us with this gem- Make this available on DVD so everyone can appreciate it.

Vanity Fair starring Eve Matheson as Becky is one of the few film adaptations of a classic novel that allows you to be unashamed that you did not read the novel. Matheson's seemingly heartless, relentlessly maneuvering Becky is a characterization that compels us to cherish the art of film acting. She is hands down the quintessential Becky Sharp. Thackeray's subplots are well executed here with remarkable actors such as Sian Phillips in a tour de force performance as Miss Crawley.

Class consciousness is at center stage here. Everyone seems to be aspiring for a coveted spot in a society that never promised anyone a perpetual rose garden. Some think themselves secure enough in that esteemed class to condescend to amuse others whom they secretly hope will never truly take a place beside them in the register of the "haves". It is with the utmost degree of mortification that the "secure" wake up in an unguarded instant to find themselves hastily uninvited to social events, and stashing away their best silks and laces against the inevitable rap of the creditor on the front door. Beg, borrow, and try not to steal to see this Vanity Fair!